Flexible coupling.



W. J. rRNCKE FLEXIBLE CUPLHG.

Armin/wm man mx. 9. 1915. amwen sgrmzi. 1911s.

Patented Apr. 24, i917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Illlmuhl Y I hf,

B 3 m W HUM/EVS 'WLLI'M 3. FIB/AMICHE; OF 'HIGHS FLEXIBLE CUEING'.

www

Specification of Letters Extent.

LQSLMM.

ppicstion led February 9,' 191 .eiel No. 7,003.

.To c/.ZZ whom it may cof/'wem 33e it known that I, WHL ,Y :1 citizen of the inited Saintes, and e resident of Highland Turk, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and iniinoed 'Flexible .Cow piing, of which the foiiowing is s fidi, clem", und eXact desciiption.

The invention relates to tiexibie couplings, such as shown and described in the Letters Patent ot the United vtstcs, Evo. i,029,355 and No. Lil-, grunted to me June il, 1912, and ctobei 27', flih respectixfely.

The object of the pl'esent invention is to provide e new and improved iiexibie vcoupiing arranged to inseie propeitiensinis sion of the poWefrom one shaft to another even should such Conpied shafts be ot of line o1` out of ccntei, 'to combine strength with iexibiiity and to seduce the cost of manufacture to e minimum.

n order to accom'piisii the d sii'cd result, use is mede of coupiiz'ic)` meii'ibeis sdaiited' to be secured to the adjacent ends of two shafts, :and i'iexibie connecting` membeis miiincetingij 'the seid coupling me bess with one end of the .ing nien .wi heid against longitudinal. inevein coupling member and the other .ed bein@ free to side in longitudine-i dii'ectio the other coupling member. the cci'rmtn members being heid against icngitudir movement in zti'ternate relation, in the solo coupling members. 'Use is eiso of' e. coupiing member formed oi' a i'ioi'siit, i pressed steel sections .tssteiiedtogett outermost sections ci each connecting mem bei' having hubs fitting one onto tbe otheif to provide s reinforced hub for sttsc'iineiit to the end of e corresponding shaft.

practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings oimin part of this specifica-tion, in which siiniie'.' characters of rei-lemme iodicate corresponding parts in l the views. i

Figure l is a. longitudinal Centaro-i section oit the texibie coupling on the line l-l. of' Fig; i a.

Fig. 2 is e transversesection of the seine on the Km2-2 of Fig. l;

3 is e 'similar View vof the seme, on the iine3-3 of Fig. l; end .J Fig. 4'" is a sectionel 4'pien View .of the same yon the i'ne lL-4 of Figi.

f0n the adjacent ends of the shafts and B to be coupled .together src secured the Patented flaps. 2li, Bf

Renewed September 21, i916 No. HLSW/ ging members C and js or similar fastening' piuiniv shown in Figs. l and The coupling' members C and D are fiexibiy connected with efich other 'their adjacent iones by the use of flexible connecting members F eiisnged in s circie the center of which coil'icides with the axis of the coieu spending shaft A. o1'y The coupling mem. i

with each bers C and D are also connected other centi'aiiy by e uinvessi gelet The coupling members C and E are alike 'be seetins, but in orde? pro de en exceedingly nd duiiibie i121 i e the o.,

one onto en oogtw ie heb H5 pi'mir'ed with for ezniegeinent by coi espendiey E ci l s will be iezidiiy nudes" stood by reference i? l sind 3.

.Each of the conneeting incmbei's IE is .ici-med of :i piuifniity of e'iipeiinipesed ,ii-.et steelv spings F nested with eac/ti other :it one end by tiensveise pin F2 projecting beyond of the miese springs n f... indicated 1"' 2 and li. y gie couplingl nembersC und is iiio'ided lwith eitemeteiy :iiienged recesses from the pei'ipherai 'faces -cf the coupling nien'ibersf,` and the recesses J and J'of the two coupiing members Q and D are ioated directly oppositeA eheh other for receiving the ends of s corresponding connecting mem; bei' 7F. The side waits ci each recess J are provided with raoiaiydisposed guidewa-ys J2 ioimed'in the section .H2 (see Figs. 2 :md 4). into kwhich extend thev projecting ends of pins F2 to boid lthisend f the correspondingA conneeting'mexnber F against longitudinal movement 'vhiie the 'other end Aof the' conneetingmeiiibeij is free tofslide in a corresponding. recess J of the other coupling,

siiniier fastening devices,

f meno--A J" ertending radially inward E bv the use of CIT normally out of contact with the coupling members to allow the desired freedom of the connecting members in the coupling members with the exception of the longitudinal movement above mentioned, owing to the ends of the pins F2 engaging the guideways J2. It will be noticed that the pins F2 cf successive coupling members engage alternately the coupling members C and D to add to the flexibility of the coupling when the same is in use.

Each of the coupling members C and D is provided with a rim K, preferably made of pressed steel and fitting onto the peripheral faces of the corresponding sections H, H', H2 and H3 of a coupling member. The rim K is provided with an inwardly extending fiange K fittingonto the outer face of the innermost section H, and the rim K is alsd provided with a crimping ange K3 crimped 'onto t ie outer face of the outermost section H after the rim is placed in position on the corresponding` coilpling member. The flange K is provided with apertures K? in register with the corresponding recesses Juand J in the couplingy n'ember C or D. By the use of the rim K the sections H, H, H2 and H3 are securely held together at their peripheral faces and each coupling member is thus strongly reinforced by the use of such rim.

The universal joint G, previously mentioned, is arranged as follows: The innermost section H3 vof each coupling member C and D is provided with a spherical center H7 having a central opening H8 through which extends a bolt Cr which also passes through washers G2, G3 and G4. of which the washer G2 has concave faces fitting onto the outer faces of the spherical centers H7. The washers G3 and G* have convex faces fitting against the inner faces of the said spherical centers H7 and the nut and the head of the bolt engage the outer faces of the said washers G and C4. The section H2 of each coupling member C is provided with a central opening H0 to accommodate the corresponding nut or lhead of the bolt C, as will be readily` understood by reference to Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the coupling members C and D can assume various positions one relatively to the other without affecting tbc driving connection bctween tbe members by the use of tbe connecting members F, as the latter are free to .ssume a corresponding` position on a change of position in the coupling members C and D., It will also be noticed that by making each coupling member C or D of thin .It is understood that the sections are coinpa atively thin and consequently the two hub sections H* and H are needed to provide the desired strength atthe hub of each coupling member.- By providing the coupling members C and D with recesses J and J leading inward from the peripheral faces of the members it is evident that the connecting members F can be readily placed in position. f

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. ln a flexible coupling. the combination of coupling members adapted to be secured to the adjacent ends of two shafts, and flexible connecting members connecting the said coupling mcnl'icrs with each other` one end of the connecting members being held against longitudinal movement in one, coupling membe' and the other end being free to slide in a longitudinal direction in the other coupling member, the connecting members being held against longitudinal movement in alternate. relation in thi` coupling members.

'In a flexible coupling` the combination of coupling members adapted to be secured to the adjacent ends of two shafts, and flexible connecting members each comprising a plurality of superimjmstul Hat springs, and a pin extending through the springs at one end thereof and projecting beyond the. faces of the outermost springs. the projecting ends of a` pin of one connecting member engaging a coupling member to .hold the connecting member against longitudinal movement, the other end of each connecting member being free to slide in the other coupling member.

3. ln a Vflexible, coupling. the combination of coupling nien'ibers adapted to be secured to the adjacent ends of two shafts, and flexible connecting members each comprising a plurality of superimposed flat springs, and a Vpin extending through the springs alv one end thereof and projecting beyond the faces of the outermost springs, the projecting ends of ay pin of one connecting member engaging a coupling member to hold the connecting .member against longitudinal movement. the other end of cach connecting member being free to slideI in tbe other coupling member, the pin of oneI connecting member engaging onev coupling member,and the pin of the next following member engaging the other coupling member.

4. ln a flexible coupling, the combination of couplingmembers adapted to be secured to thc adjacent ends ol two shafts, each coupling member being provided with periphcral recesses, tac recesses in the coupling lits ends into a pair of registeri.

'said coupling members Ywith euch other,

members being located opposite each otand connecting members each fitting n ,'17

;ecesses, each connecting' member comprisig n plu` rality of sup .rimposed let springs, and a transverse pin extending through one end of each connecting member, the ends of the pin engaging a coupling,l member and the pins engaging the coupling n'lembers in alternate relation. k,

5. l'n a flexible coupling membcr, the com-- bination of coupling members adapted to be secured to the shafts, each coupling' member videdI with peripheral recesses.

being prov the recesses in the couplingl members being located opposite each other, the side walls ot' alternato recesses in each coupling member having radial guideu'ays, the guiden'nys of one coupling 1 ei ber alternating' with ithe gnidew'iys of the other Coupling member and connecting members itting with theii` ends in the registering recesses of the` said coupling members to connect the. latter with each other, ouch eonnectinoA member comprising a plurelit) or superimposed flat springs und a transversf.: pin extending through one. end of euch connecting' meniber, Athe ends of the pins cnzgpigingyr the' guideu'ays. l

ln a flexible coupling, the combination of coupling members adapted vto be secured to the adjacent ends of two shafts, and iiecible connecting` noch coupling member being formed ot' a plnrelity of superimposed pressed steel disks fastened together face to lace and one ol the coupling disks haring,- a hub `tor nt tachment to the end of o. Corres1 ;,ondingr shit-ft,

T. A coupling providedwitli a. ooupliro face to face and having n rim fitting moundthe peripheral faces o'l the disks and pro-` vided with flanges fitting respectively against the 'outer faces of the outermost und inner disks.

S. A coupling' provided with 'a coupling member fori'nedof a plurality of superimposed pressed steel disks fastened together, sundry oi the disks having integral hubs fitting one into the other substantially the entire length of the hubs to provide ini'rn'ced hub.

). coupling provided vwith a coupling member formedo't' a plurality of -superinoposed pressed steel disks fastened together, sundry of the disks having intefrnl hubs flttingonc into the other substantially the entire length of the hubs to provide aireinforred hub, the outermost hubl having an inwardly bent flan-ge fitting against the outer edge ofthe inner heb.

adjacent ends of tno members connectingthe i0, in n 'flexible eoupl' oit' coupling members :n L to be secured to the adjacent ends oi.' vo shafts, and iicXible eoixnectine numb connecting the seid colniling members wim coupling member being formed of a pluralit)v ol pressed steel sections the outermost sections" of euch cmnjllingY i uber haring hubs littingr one into thev oi ar to provide a. reinforced hub For attziehmen' to the end of a rcnfrespondine" .'slnft.

ll. ln a'llexible coupling, the combination oic coupling' members adapted to secured to the adjacent ends or" two shafts, flexible connecting members connectingthe said coupling members with euch other, eb

coupling;` member beingK formed ot' a plurality oi pressed steel sections fastened together, tlie' nte1inost sections of each coupling member haring hubs fitting' one .iiexible connecting` members connecting the "sind, coupling members with each other,

each ,coupling member being'formed of a plurality ot pressed steel sections fastened together. the outermost sections of each coupling member haring' hubs itting one onto the other to provide a reinorcedfhub 'for attiulunent to the end-ot acorrespond ingT shaft. the innermost section of each coupling member hnvine' a spherical center portion, und a universal joint connecting the renter portions of the 'coupling members with each other.

153. ln a ile. blc coupline', tlie-eouibination of coupling'v members adapted to be Secured to the adjacent ends of two shafts,

flexible connecting' members connecting the' said coul'iling members with. each other, each coupling; member being formed of a pluralit)v ol pressed steel sections fastened together, the outermost ,portions'of each eouliliug,r member haring onto the other to provide n reinforced hub for attaclnncnt to the end vof a corresponding shaft, the innermost'section of each coupling nnnnl'i'r having a spherical center portion` n Washer interposed between the outer 'faces of the center portions of the coupling members, iyashers fitting the inner faces of the said. center portions, end e bolt extending through thesaid center portions and the 'Suid washers to form a universal joint connectionv between the coupling members. I

lll. In n Horrible coupling. the combine-- tion of conpdng members adapted to be s6-- euch other, ettolihubs fitting. one

together, the outermost sections of each S ,coupling member having hubs fitting one onto the other to provide a reinforced hub forattachment to the end of a eorresponding shaft, and a rim litting around the peripheral faces :of the sections of each coupling member, the rim havingr outer and inner anges fitting' against the outer faces of the outermost and innermost sections of the coupling member.

15. In a flexible coupling, the c0mbination of coupling members' adapted to be secured to the adjacent ends of two shafts, flexible connecting members connecting the said couplingmembers with each other, each coupling member being formed of a. plurality of pressed ysteel sections fastened together, the outermost sections of each coupling member having hubs fitting one onto the other to provide a reinforced hub 'for attachment to the end of a corresponding shaft, and a. rim tting around the peripheraliaces of the sections of each couplingr member, the rim havingr outer and inner flanges litting against the outer Jfaces of the outermost and innermost sections of the coupling` member, the inner flanges having openings for the passage or" the connecting members.

In testimonyY whereof iI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing' witnesses.

VILLIAM J. FRANCHE.

l Witnesses Trino. G, Ilos'r1n:, PHILIP D. ROLLHAUS. 

